High School-Level Assessments: Grade Level(s) Tested

Why does it matter? States, schools and districts benefit when they know how well students can read and write (and how well they know their history, science, etc.)... In addition, assessments given at lower grades evaluate students' skills while time is still available for remediation, while assessments given at higher grades can potentially assess students' readiness for work and postsecondary education. End-of-course assessments evaluate students' knowledge of grade-level content, whereas test items on general assessments are generally geared toward lower grade level content.

This database provides information on the grades in which students are assessed at the high school level. The numbers below add up to more than 51 (50 states and the District of Columbia) in that many states test during more than one grade at the high school level.

Grade 9: Nineteen states and the District of Columbia administer assessments in grade 9.Grade 10: Thirty-one states and the District of Columbia administer assessments in grade 10.Grade 11: Thirty-four states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico administer assessments in grade 11.Grade 12: One state (Kentucky) administers assessments in grade 12. In addition, Kansas directs that students be assessed in History/Government at the end of the opportunity to learn, but no later than the end of grade 12.End-of-course (grade level varies): Thirteen states administer end-of-course assessments in which the student grade level varies depending on the grade in which the student takes the related course. An additional eight states plan to implement end-of-course assessments during the 2007-2008 school year or later.

9: Reading, Math (Iowa Test of Educational Development)11: Grade 11 Literacy (Grade 11 Writing being field-tested in 2006-2007 school year)End of Course: Grade level varies, although beginning with the 2009-2010 school year, a student must take all initial end-of-course assessments by the end of grade 10.

11: Reading, Math, Science (test determined by district; almost all participate in the Iowa Test of Educational Development)Notes/Citation: Iowa statutes call for districts to develop or select assessment programs, but require that grade 11 reading, math and science be tested at a minimum.

Kansas

10: Math
11: Reading, Writing, Science: at the end of the opportunity to learn or no later than the end of grade 11
12: History/Government: at the end of the opportunity to learn or no later than the end of grade 12

9: Reading, Math (North Carolina Competency Test, only required for students who do not attain Achievement Level III on 8th grade exams)
10: Writing (North Carolina Writing Assessment); Math (High School Comprehensive Test—only offered to students who do not have Algebra I by grade 10)
End of Course: Grade level varies

However, "It is the intent of the Legislature that in the future a grade eleven uniform statewide assessment be administered in lieu of the grade ten uniform statewide assessment." The West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) will implement the grade 11 testing beginning in the 2008-2009 school year. In addition, 2007 S.B. 657 directs the state board to develop a state assessment system that extends to grade 12, and authorizes the state board to move the writing assessment to grade 11.

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